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The United States men’s national team roster for the 2026 World Cup is a true mystery just eight months away from the start of the tournament. Cristian Roldan threw another curveball into the plan with an impressive performance in the midfield during the USMNT’s 2-1 friendly win vs. Australia on Tuesday.
It’s no secret that the 30-year-old Seattle Sounders midfielder has his fair share of critics among the U.S. fanbase. Roldan has often been a metaphorical punching bag for fans during his limited appearances for the national team over the past few years.
Here were some reactions to his inclusion in the Starting XI against Australia on Saturday.
Roldan shouldn't even be on the team... why is he starting... terrible
— Greg (@strickcmb82) October 14, 2025
Roldan is going to be the death of me
— James Roy Reese III ️✝️ (@westvirginiabld) October 15, 2025
Why god why does Roldan continue to get opportunities just to give the ball away 20 times
— Brad Rosenston (@rosenston_brad) October 15, 2025
An early mistake from Roldan that led to Australia’s opening goal only exacerbated the criticism toward him online.
Jordan Bos puts Australia ahead against the USMNT pic.twitter.com/MWSezqUxjH
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 15, 2025
Roldan then locked in after the error. And by locked in we mean became arguably one of if not the USMNT’s best player on the field.
He supplied a sublime ball to Haji Wright to get the U.S. level in the 33rd minute. The vision and weight of this pass was perfection from Roldan.
Haji Wright fires the USMNT back level with Australia pic.twitter.com/YOp9SfLzLh
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 15, 2025
He had two other bright spots to close out the first half. Roldan nearly curled in a low effort from outside the box in the 36th minute. He then had another bending attempt that wasn’t a million miles away from the top corner several minutes later.
In the second half he assisted the game-winning goal with a clever piece of play. Roldan took a free kick quickly to catch the Socceroos off guard and find Wright again who scored brilliantly.
goal for Haji Wright pic.twitter.com/hJTqp9O4tT
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 15, 2025
Roldan was substituted in the 75th minute for Aidan Morris. In the previous game against Ecuador, Morris was given the start and Roldan replaced him near the 75-minute mark.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino had high praise for Roldan’s work on the field and his energy with the team off it.
"He’s what we need,” Pochettino said of Roldan after the Australia game. “Maybe Roldan is an example if you want to build your perfect player he has a little bit of everything."
If you were to go back one year and ask a USMNT fan if Roldan had a shot at making the 2026 World Cup roster, they would’ve laughed in your face. The long-time Sounders midfielder didn’t make a single appearance for the U.S. in 2024 and didn’t make one until the friendly against Japan.
Now it looks like he has a serious shot of being on the USMNT for a second-straight World Cup.
